Sash-balance.



Patented .luly I6, I9UII.

J. H. WALLACE &. A. G. HILTN.

6?/ mga? SASH BALANCE.

(Application led June 7, 1900.

litten @rares artnr @trenini JAMES H. VALLACE AND ARTHUR Cr. HILTON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNORS TO THE INTERNATIONAL BURGLAR PROOF SASH BALANCE AND LOCK COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF SAME PLACE..

sass-BALANCE.

SPECEFCCATTON forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,600, dated July 16, 1901.

application filed June 7, 1900. Serial No. 19,406. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES H. VALLACE and ARTHUR G. HILroN,citizens of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented anew and usefullmprovement in Sash-Balances, of which the following is a specification.

In windows the wood of the sash and the frame is liable to shrink and to warp, the window-sash becomes loose in the frame, and4 if the sash is balanced by a spring-controlled gear engaging with a rack the shrinkage and the warping of the wood change the adjustment between the gear and the rack and interfere with the proper balancing of the sash and the secure locking of the same.

This invention has reference to an improvei ment in a sash-balance; and it consists in the peculiar and novel construction and the combination of parts whereby the sash-balance and the locking device may adj ust themselves to the varying conditions as also to peculiar conditions of the window-casing.

Figure l is a vertical sectional View of the window-casing and sash-balance, showing the sash provided with a rack. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same on the line X X of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the lower part of the casing,'showing the detent-operating arm and the shaft-bearings formed in the two-part casing. Fig. i is a perspective view of the stop or detent operating means, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the same.

Similar marks of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, a indicates the windowframe, a the window-sash, and d2 the rack secured to the windowsash- The face-plate b is secured to the window-frame and is provided with bracket h, with which the casing h2, inclosing and supporting the mechanism of the sash-balance, is pivotally connected. The concave guard-plate b3 extends from the face-plate b rearward and forms a guide for the lower corner of the casing b2. The casing is cast in two parts, the bearings for the rocking shaft ofthe locking-detent and the screw b4 being formedin the brackets b5 b5 and in the abutment h6, so that when the two parts of the casing are secured together by the screws bl b7 the screw b4 and the rockshaft bs are held in place.

The gear c, which, as is usual in sash-balances, contains and is actuated by a helical spring, is journaled on bearings supported by the casing h2, and the casing is held by a yielding spring-pressure to the faceplate Z). The screw b"l is held between the two parts of the abutment bf with a loose sliding lit. The screw engages with the nut b9, which, hear ing against the dat surface in the lower part ofthe casing b2, is held against rotation. The coiled spring Z110 surrounds the screw and bears against the abutment h and the nut b9. The

head of the screw b4 looselyrlits the countersunk recess in the face-plate, so as to permit of slight oscillating motion. The tension of the spring bw is adjusted by the screw b4, and the resiliency of the spring tends to hold the casing b2 against the face-plate b and the gear c in mesh with the rack, so that the gear can adjust itself automatically and follow any irregularities of the rack.

The locking device consists ot' the detent c', projecting from the rock-shaft bs. The detent may project radially from the rockshaft, as shown in Fig. 4. lt may be offset to one side, as shown in Fig. 5, or arranged in any other suitable manner, so that by rocking the rock-shaft the detent may enter be tween the teeth of the gear c to lock the gear or removed from between the teeth to unlock the gear. The rock-shaft is provided with a groove. The arm c2 or the bracket c3 has a sliding fit on the rock-shaft 238. Either may be used to suit peculiar conditions that may require a push-button for operating the locking devices to be placed into abnormal posi tions. The screw c4 connects the arm with the rock-shaft and allows the arm to slide on the rock-shaft to the desired position, while the casing swings with the variations of the rack.

The member c5, preferably bifurcated, is pivotally connected with the arm c2 or bracket o3. The opposite end is screw-threaded toreceive the end of the actuating-rod c, which extends through one o'f the slots c7, formed,

'dow-casing CL3, Where it connects with any suitable operating device, usually a springpressed push-button.

By the use of the sliding connection of the arm c2 on the rock-shaft bg and the slot c7 in the casing b2 the actuating-rod may be located in any desired position. Moldings on the window-casing may be avoided.

In the preferred form the two sides of the casing h2 are connected pivotally by the bolt a4, as is shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus described our invention, We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In combination with the window-sash rack, the gear engaging with lthe rack, and the casing inclosing the gear, of a rock-shaft longitudinally grooved, a detent on the rockshaft adapted to engage with the gear to lock the same, an arm connected with the rockshaft and free to slide on the same, a member pivotally connected with the arm on the rock-shaft and adapted to receive the actuating-rod, and a slot in the side of the casing on a line with the actuating-rod, whereby the actuating-rod may be located at any desired place on the window-casing, as described.

2. In a windoW-sash-controlling device of the nature described, the combination with the gear, of a detent connected with a rock- 'shaft, a slot in the casing inclosing the mechanism and actuating mechanism connected with the rock-shaft by a longitudinal grooveand-spline engagement, whereby the lock-actuating mechanism may be adjusted on the rock -shaft to an;7 desired position, as described.

3. In a window-sashcontrolling mechanism of the nature described, the combination with the rack on the Window-sash, the face-plate on the Window-frame, and the gear,ofa casing forming the support of and inclosing the v mechanism, a pivotal connection of one end of the casingewith the face-plate, a spring-actuated yielding connection of the other end of the casing With the faceplate, a slot in the side of the casing, and a locking device, consisting of a rock-shaft, a detent on the rockshaft adapted to engage With the gear, an arm connected With the rock-shaft by a groove-andspline connection, and means for operating the arm, whereby the gear and the casing may follow the changed or changing positions of the rack and the arm slide on the rock-shaft without aecting the mechanism for operating the locking devices, as described.

4. In a sash-balance, the combination with the gear c and the inclosing casing b, of the slot clin the casing b2, the actuating-rod cGin screw-thread engagement with the member ci", the member c5, the arm c2 pivotally connected with the memberV c5, the screw c4 in the arm c2, the rock-shaft 198 having a longitudinal groove with which the screw c4 in the arm c2 engages, and a detent connected with the rock-shaft and adapted to engage with the gear to lock the same, as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. l

JAMES H. WALLACE. ARTHUR G. HILTON. Nitnessesz A. E. HAGERTY, J. A. MILLER, Jr. 

